Cops: Asheville man set fire to wife, home

ASHEVILLE – A city man is facing additional charges related to a Valentine’s Day incident in which police say he threw gasoline on his wife and set their home on fire, causing his wife to be seriously burned.

During a domestic dispute on Feb. 14, Gann is accused of pouring gasoline inside the couple’s home at 26 Lower Grassy Branch Road, including throwing some on his wife, and then lighting it, Williams said.

Gann’s wife suffered serious burns and has required extensive medical treatment, Williams said. The charges Tuesday were filed several months after the incident because investigators needed to interview the injured woman but were unable to speak with her because of her medical condition, Williams said.

Gann was charged Feb. 14 with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury and has been held at the Buncombe County Detention Facility since then under a $52,500 secured bond.

A magistrate judge ordered him held without bond on the new charges. Gann was scheduled to make a first appearance in Buncombe County District Court on Wednesday on those charges.

The Asheville Fire Department responded to the fire at the couple’s home, which was destroyed by the blaze, Williams said.